The trials of a Griffith boy who received a new kidney during nine hours of surgery Thursday at University of Chicago are continuing.
Blake Loundenber's body has rejected the new kidney and he now must undergo two weeks of blood transfusions to replace all the blood in his body, aunt Kelly Ray said.
There is still a slim chance the 9-year-old could keep the kidney, but it is more likely he will have to go back to using a dialysis machine while he awaits another new kidney, she said.
Blake was put on dialysis at 3 weeks old after doctors did not think he would survive three days. He had a kidney transplant at 2, but his body rejected it. The third-grader at Beiriger Elementary School has spent 11 hours a night hooked to a peritoneal dialysis machine at home.
A Facebook page set up in support of Blake has been deluged with encouragement from the community, according to his family.
The campaign to find a kidney for Blake spread through social media and word-of-mouth in Northwest Indiana. A donated kidney that was a possibility for Blake was located Tuesday. It wasn't until Thursday morning that it was known for sure that it was a match that could be used for him.
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